North Andover company charged with illegal gaming, laundering

Tuesday

May 2, 2017 at 6:03 PMMay 2, 2017 at 6:03 PM

Bryan McGonigle bmcgonigle@wickedlocal.com @GtownRecord

A North Andover business was allegedly used to launder money from an illegal gaming enterprise, and four people have been charged in connection with the scheme, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey’s office announced Tuesday.

Four Star Vending Inc., located on Turnpike Street, and its owners – William Morley, 62, and his wife Bonnie Morley, 53, both of Middleton – were arraigned in Essex Superior Court in Salem on charges of keeping a place for registering bets, organizing and promoting gambling, unlawful operation of a gaming device money laundering and three counts of conspiracy.

William and Bonnie Morley both pleaded not guilty and were released on personal recognizance and are due back in Essex Superior Court for a pretrial conference on June 5.

The Morleys, through Four Star Vending, allegedly distributed illegal gaming devices (video slot and poker machines played for cash payouts) to bars and other establishments in Massachusetts and New York, and Four Star employees allegedly collected the slot machine proceeds and them with the owners of those establishments.

"We allege the owners and employees of this gaming company used their business as a front to illegally launder over a million dollars for their own profit," AG Healey said in a statement Tuesday. "The charges today are the culmination of a months-long joint investigation with our partners in law enforcement, and we will continue to work with them to investigate and prosecute those who commit these crimes and operate schemes using unregulated and illegal gambling machines."

Four Star Vending employees Richard Calhoun, 50, of Peabody, and Anthony Mazzola, 56, of Newton, were each charged with keeping a place for registering bets unlawful operation of a gaming device two counts of conspiracy.

"These illegal gaming devices, placed in social clubs and other locations, allowed the defendants to pick the pockets of countless unsuspecting patrons," Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett said. "Along with our law enforcement partners, we will hold these defendants and any others who engage in illegal gaming accountable."

Four Star was also allegedly supplying and servicing ATMs, jukeboxes, vending machines, and other amusement devices to its customers and used this part of its business to launder the illegal gaming proceeds, Healey’s statement continued.

It’s estimated that this illegal operation included 200 gaming machines, about $1.4 million in illegal proceeds and 11 vehicles used to facilitate the unlawful venture.